The subsidy fertilizer supply chain challenges in Malawi

T H E S U B S ID Y F E R T IL IZ E R S U P P L Y C H A IN C H A L L E N G E S IN M A L A W I G R Y S O N K O N D W A N I C H IB W A T IK O M S U K U A d is s e rta tio n s u b m itte d in p a r tia l fu lfilm e n t o f th e re q u ire m e n ts f o r th e a w a rd o f th e d e g re e o f M a s te r o f sc ie n c e (T ra n s p o rt p la n n in g ) D e p a rtm e n t o f U r b a n a n d R e g io n a l P la n n in g F a c u lty o f B u ilt E n v iro n m e n t a n d S u rv e y in g U n iv e r s iti T e k n o lo g i M a la y s ia 2019 D E D IC A T IO N T h i s t h e s i s is d e d i c a t e d t o m y w i f e L i d i a a n d m y s o n s D r a k e a n d E m m a n u e l a n d m y d a u g h t e r P r a i s e f o r e n c o u r a g i n g m e t o t a k e u p t h e c h a ll e n g e . M a y I a l s o d e d ic a te th is w o rk to m y lo v e ly m u m J o y c e T e m e n tc h e n i, a n d th e e n tire f a m ily f o r y o u r p r a y e r s a n d s u p p o r t . I w i s h b r o t h e r A r c h i b a l d w a s t h e r e t o w i t n e s s th e c o m p l e t i o n o f t h e d r e a m . M a y h is s o u l r e m a i n r e s t i n g i n p e a c e . ii ACKNOW LEDGM ENT It r e q u i r e d c o n t r i b u t i o n s f r o m d i f f e r e n t q u a r t e r s to c o m p l e t e t h i s r e s e a r c h a n d e v e r y c o n t r i b u t i o n is a c k n o w l e d g e d . H o w e v e r , l e t m e e x p r e s s m y d e e p e s t g r a ti t u d e t o m y s u p e r v i s o r D r . Z u h r a J u n a i d a B i n t i H u n s n y f o r h e r e x c e l l e n t g u i d a n c e f o r th e p r o v i s i o n o f t h e c o n d u c i v e a t m o s p h e r e . H e r s u p e r v i s o r y s t y l e h a d t r a i n e d m e to b e c o m e a n a c c o m p l i s h e d r e s e a r c h e r . M a y I e x t e n d m y s i n c e r e g r a ti t u d e to A s s o c i a te P ro fe s s o r D r. M u h a m m a d Z a ly S h a h f o r h is o b s e rv a tio n s a n d e n c o u ra g e m e n t w h ic h c o n trib u te d to th e s u c c e s s o f th is p ro je c t. A c k n o w le d g m e n ts s h o u ld a lso b e e x te n d e d t o D R M e h d i M o e i n a d d i n i f o r h i s p o s i t i v e o b s e r v a t io n s . I am in d e b te d to M a la w i G o v e rn m e n t th r o u g h th e M a la w i G o v e rn m e n t S c h o l a r s h i p F u n d ( M G S F ) f o r f u l f i l l i n g i t s f i n a n c i a l o b l i g a t i o n s a n d to m e m b e r s o f th e R o a d T ra n s p o rt O p e ra to rs A s s o c ia tio n (R T O A ) a n d m a n a g e rs o f th e fe rtiliz e r c o m p a n ie s f o r r e s p o n d in g p o s itiv e ly d u rin g d a ta c o lle c tio n . It h a d n o t b e e n a n e a s y r o a d r e a c h i n g t h i s f a r a n d I o w e i t a l l to G o d f o r p r o v i d i n g m e w i t h g o o d h e a l t h a n d s u p p o r t i v e e n v i r o n m e n t w i t h o u t w h i c h , th i s p ro je c t w o u ld n o t h a v e b e e n a su cc ess . ii i A B ST R A C T T h e h ig h c o s t o f fe r tiliz e r le ft m a n y s m a ll h o ld e r fa rm e rs u n a b le to a c c e s s f e r tiliz e r w h ic h r e s u lte d in lo w a g r ic u l tu r a l p r o d u c t i o n i n M a l a w i. T o s o l v e th i s p ro b le m , th e g o v e rn m e n t in tro d u c e d th e F a rm 2 0 0 4 /2 0 0 5 g ro w in g se a so n . The I n p u t S u b s id y P r o g r a m ( F I S P ) in s u b s id y p ro g r a m c o n s titu te d a b o u t 6 0 % o f a ll f e r t i l i z e r i m p o r t s i n t o t h e c o u n t r y . B u t b e s i d e s h u g e i n v e s t m e n t in to t h i s p r o g r a m , f o o d in s e c u rity s itu a tio n h a d n o t b e e n e lim in a te d le a v in g m a n y s m a llh o ld e r fa rm e rs d e p e n d i n g o n f o o d h a n d o u t s t o t a k e t h e m to t h e n e x t h a r v e s t i n g s e a s o n . P o li c y m a k e rs h a d b e e n e x p lo rin g o p tio n s o n h o w to e x p lo it th e b e n e fits o f F IS P . I t is f o r t h a t r e a s o n t h a t a n i n v e s t i g a t i o n w a s c o n d u c t e d o n t r a n s p o r t a t i o n c h a l l e n g e s in f e r t i l i z e r s u p p l y c h a in , a s l a t e d e l i v e r y w a s r e p o r t e d t o b e o n e o f t h e p r o b l e m s i n th e d is trib u tio n p ro c e s s . B e c a u s e o f th a t, th re e re s e a rc h o b je c tiv e s a n d r e s e a rc h q u e s tio n s w e re fo r m u la te d , a n d a p ra g m a tic p h ilo s o p h y w a s a d o p te d . T h ro u g h th is p h ilo s o p h y , b o th q u a lita tiv e a s w e ll a s q u a n tita tiv e re s e a rc h m e th o d s in d a ta c o lle c tio n w e re e m p lo y e d . A s n o w b a ll s a m p lin g m e th o d w a s u s e d w ith th e a s s is ta n c e o f R o a d T r a n s p o r t O p e r a t o r s A s s o c i a t i o n ( R T O A ) i n M a l a w i. T h r e e m a n a g e r s f r o m b o t h p u b lic as w e ll as p riv a te fe rtiliz e r c o m p a n ie s w e re in te rv ie w e d w h ile 38 q u e s t i o n n a i r e s w e r e a d m i n i s t e r e d t o t r a n s p o r t e r s t h a t h a d p r e v i o u s l y b e e n i n v o l v e d in s u b s id y f e r t i l i z e r d i s t r i b u ti o n . The fin d in g s o f th e re se a rc h s p o tte d l o g i s ti c a l p ro b le m s in th e p ro c e s s o f a w a rd in g c o n tra c ts to fe r tiliz e r im p o rte rs a s w e ll a s tra n s p o rte rs a s n o t e ffe c tiv e b e c a u s e o f b rib e ry , p o litic a l in te rfe re n c e a n d b ia s c la im s , a s t h e m a i n c a u s e s o f t h e i n e f f ic i e n c i e s . O t h e r f i n d i n g s i n c l u d e d p r o b l e m s w i t h b e n e fic ia ry id e n tific a tio n , h ig h tr a n s p o r ta tio n c o s ts , n o t u tiliz in g IC T , IT S a n d la c k o f R ese a rc h and D e v e lo p m e n t as o th e r c h a lle n g e s a f fe c tin g p r o d u c ti v i t y . T h is r e s e a r c h c a m e u p w i t h a R o a d m a p to F e r t i l i z e r S u p p ly C h a i n a s a r e f e r e n c e m a t e r i a l to fu tu re f e r tiliz e r s u p p ly c h a in s tu d ie s , p r o p o s e d “ g ro u p fe r tiliz e r p ro c u re m e n t” in fu tu re fe rtiliz e r p ro c u re m e n t p o lic ie s and p ro v id e d e m p iric a l t r a n s p o r t a t i o n c h a l l e n g e s a f f e c t i n g f e r t i l i z e r d i s t r i b u t i o n i n M a l a w i. iv e v id e n c e of ABSTRAK H a rg a b a ja y a n g tin g g i m e n y u k a r k a n p e la d a n g k e c il u n tu k m e n d a p a tk a n a k s e s k e p a d a k o m o d i t i itu , m e n g a k i b a t k a n p r o d u k p e r t a n i a n y a n g r e n d a h d i M a l a w i. U n t u k m e n y e l e s a i k a n m a s a l a h in i, k e r a j a a n t e l a h m e m p e r k e n a l k a n “ F a r m S u b s id y P ro g ra m (F IS P )” s e ja k s u b s i d i in i m e r a n g k u m i 6 0 % m u s im penanam an tid a k dapat 2 0 0 4 /2 0 0 5 . P ro g ra m a k t i v i t i i m p o r t b a j a d i M a l a w i. W a l a u p u n d e n g a n p e l a b u r a n y a n g b e s a r d a l a m p r o g r a m in i, te ta p ta h u n In p u t d is e le s a ik a n , m a la n g n y a m a s a la h k e k u r a n g a n m a k a n a n m enyebabkan banyak p e la d a n g k e c il te rp a k s a b e r g a n tu n g k e p a d a b a n tu a n m a k a n a n s e h in g g a m u s im m e n u a i y a n g s e te ru sn y a . P a ra p e n g g u b a l p o lis i te la h m e n c a ri p e lb a g a i ja la n u n tu k m e n g g u n a k a n F IS P s a la h seb aga i s a t u p e n y e l e s a i a n b a g i m a s a l a h in i. D i s e b a b k a n p e r k a r a in i, k a j i a n t e l a h d ija la n k a n u n tu k m e n g e n a lp a s ti c a b a ra n d a la m p ro s e s ra n ta ia n b e k a la n b a ja k e ra n a p e n g h a n ta ra n y a n g le w a t te la h d ila p o rk a n s e b a g a i m a s a la h u ta m a d a la m p e n g e d a ra n . T ig a o b je k tif te la h d ite ta p k a n p ro s e s d a n k a jia n k u a lita tif d a n k u a n tita tif d i j a l a n k a n b a g i m e n g u m p u l d a ta . P e r s a m p e l a n b o l a s a l j i t e l a h d i g u n a k a n d e n g a n b a n t u a n “ R o a d T r a n s p o r t O p e r a t o r s A s s o c i a t i o n ( R T O A ) ” d i M a l a w i. T i g a p e n g u r u s d a r ip a d a s y a rik a t b a ja s w a s ta d a n k e r a ja a n te la h d ite m u ra m a h , d a n 3 8 s o a l se lid ik te la h d ie d a r k a n k e p a d a s y a rik a t p e n g a n g k u ta n y a n g p e r n a h te rlib a t d a la m p ro g ra m p e n g e d a ra n b a ja s e b e lu m in i. K a j i a n m e n d a p a t i t e r d a p a t m a s a l a h d a l a m p ro se s p e n g a n u g e r a h a n k o n t r a k k e p a d a p e n g i m p o r t b a j a d a n j u g a s y a r i k a t p e n g a n g k u ta n , k e r a n a ia tid a k e f e k tif d is e b a b k a n ra s u a h , p e n g lib a ta n k u a s a p o litik d a n p e m b a y a ra n y a n g t i d a k a d il. S e l a i n itu , t e r d a p a t m a s a l a h d a l a m p e n g e n a l p a s t i a n p e n e r i m a f a e d a h , k o s p e n g a n g k u t a n y a n g t i n g g i, p e n g g u n a a n I C T d a n I T S y a n g t i d a k m a k s i m u m , d a n k e k u r a n g a n p e n y e lid ik a n d a n p e m b a n g u n a n . K a jia n in i te la h m e n g h a s ilk a n p e ta m in d a b a g i r a n ta ia n b e k a la n b a ja s e b a g a i ru ju k a n u n tu k k a jia n a k a n d a ta n g d a la m b id a n g p e r o le h a n b a ja , d a n p o lis i y a n g b e r k e n a a n , s e r ta m e m b e r ik a n b u k ti k u k u h u n t u k c a b a r a n d a l a m p e n g a n g k u t a n b a j a d i M a l a w i. v TABLE OF CONTENTS T IT L E D E C L A R A T IO N PAGE i D E D IC A T IO N ii A c k n o w le d g m e n t iii ABSTR ACT iv ABSTR AK v TABLE OF CONTENTS vi L IS T O F T A B L E S x L IS T O F F IG U R E S xi L IS T O F A B B R E V IA T IO N S L IS T O F A P P E N D IC E S CHAPTER 1 1.1 x ii x iii IN T R O D U C T IO N 1 B a c k g r o u n d to t h e S tu d y 1 1 .1 .1 F a r m I n p u t S u b s id y P r o g r a m ( F I S P ) 3 1 .2 P r o b l e m S ta t e m e n t 4 1.3 R e s e a rc h O b je c tiv e s 5 1 .4 R e s e a rc h Q u e s tio n s 5 1 .5 T h e o re tic a l F ra m e w o rk 6 1 .6 A s s u m p tio n s 7 1 .7 S c o p e o f t h e s tu d y 7 1 .8 S ig n i f ic a n c e o f t h e S tu d y 8 1 .9 R e s e a rc h O u tlin e 8 1 .1 0 C o n c lu s io n 9 CHAPTER 2 L IT E R A T U R E R E V IE W 11 2 .1 In tro d u c tio n 11 2 .2 S u p p ly c h a in 11 2 .3 F e rtiliz e r I n s titu tio n a l F ra m e w o rk in M a la w i 12 vi 2 . 3 .1 A D M A R C and SFFR FM 14 2 .3 .2 T h e M a l a w i B u r e a u o f S ta n d a r d s ( M B S ) 15 2 . 3 .3 M a la w i F e r tiliz e r T ra d e A s s o c ia tio n (M F T A ) 15 2 .3 .4 C l e a r i n g A g e n ts 16 F e rtiliz e r Im p o rta tio n in M a la w i 16 2 . 4 .1 F e rtiliz e r a n d R e g is tra tio n R e g u la tio n s 18 2 .4 .2 Im p o rt P e rm its 19 2 . 4 .3 Q u a li t y C o n t r o l o f F e r t i l i z e r 20 2 .4 .4 L a b e l i n g a n d p a c k a g i n g r e q u ir e m e n t s 20 F a r m I n p u t S u b s id y P r o g r a m ( F I S P ) . 21 F e rtiliz e r S u p p ly C h a in 24 T ra n s p o rta tio n 27 T ra n s p o rta tio n C h a lle n g e s a f fe c tin g A g ric u ltu ra l 29 P r o d u c t i v i ty . 2 .8 .1 D is re g a rd in g tr a n s p o r ta tio n as an im p o rta n t p ro b le m 31 2 .8 .2 L a c k o f R e s e a rc h a n d D e v e lo p m e n t 31 2 .8 .3 P o o r o r N o t u tiliz in g b e n e fits o f IC T a n d IT S 32 2 .8 .4 P o o r L o g i s t ic s 33 2 . 8 .5 U n d e ru tiliz a tio n o f R a il T ra n s p o rta tio n 33 2 .8 .6 R e l u c t a n c e to a b i d e b y T r a n s p o r t P o l i c i e s 35 2 .8 .7 O v e rre lia n c e o n R o a d s F re ig h t T ra n s p o rt 36 2 .8 .8 U n s u s ta in a b le T ra n s p o rta tio n 37 2 .8 .9 P o o r o r la c k o f p h y s ic a l In fra s tru c tu re 39 2 . 8 .1 0 H i g h T r a n s p o r t a t i o n C o s ts 40 C o n c lu s io n 42 RESEA RCH M ETH O D O LO G Y 43 In tro d u c tio n 43 R e se a rc h F ra m e w o rk 43 T h e R e s e a r c h P h ilo s o p h y 44 R e s e a rc h A p p ro a c h a n d R e s e a rc h d e s ig n 45 Q u a li t a t i v e D a t a C o l l e c t i o n m e t h o d . 46 v ii 3 .5 .1 R e s e a r c h I n t e r v ie w s 46 3 .5 .2 R e l i a b i l i t y a n d V a li d i t y 48 3 .5 .3 Q u a li t a t i v e D a t a A n a ly s i s 48 Q u a n ti t a t i v e D a t a C o l l e c t i o n M e t h o d 51 3 .6 .1 T h e Q u e s tio n n a ire 52 3 .6 .2 S a m p l in g M e t h o d 53 3 .6 .3 Q u a n ti t a t i v e D a t a A n a ly s i s 54 E th ic a l c o n s id e ra tio n 55 T h e R e s e a r c h P la n 55 C o n c lu s io n 56 D A T A A N A L Y S IS A N D F IN D IN G S 57 In tro d u c tio n 57 Q u a li t a t i v e d a t a a n a ly s i s 57 4 . 2 .1 F in d in g s f r o m th e in te rv ie w s 60 4 .2 .2 I n t e r v ie w R e s u l t s 65 Q u a n ti t a t i v e D a t a A n a ly s i s 69 4 . 3 .1 69 D e m o g ra p h ic D a ta 4 .3 .1 .1 E x p e r ie n c e in T ra n s p o rta tio n B u s in e s s 70 4 .3 .1 . 2 F l e e t S iz e 71 4 .3 .1 .3 H a d th e c o m p a n ie s p re v io u s ly b e e n in v o lv e d in th e d is trib u tio n of 72 S u b s id y F a r m I n p u ts 4 .3 .2 E ffic ie n c y o f T r a n s p o rta tio n C o n tra c ts in F a rm 72 I n p u t S u b s id y P r o g r a m 4 .3 .2 .1 Q u a l i f i c a t i o n o f a t r a n s p o r t e r f o r th e a w a r d o f t h e c o n t r a c t t o d i s t r i b u te 73 F a r m In p u ts 4 .3 .2 . 2 E v a lu a tio n o f th e s e le c tio n p ro c e s s 74 o f tra n s p o rte rs 4 .3 .2 .3 W h y th e s e le c tio n p ro c e s s w a s n o t 74 e f f e c tiv e . 4 .3 .2 . 4 The e ffic ie n c y p ro c e ss v ii i o f th e d is trib u tio n 75 4 . 3 .3 T ra n s p o rta tio n C h a lle n g e s 4 .3 .4 H ow T ra n s p o rta tio n 76 C h a lle n g e s a ffe c t fe rtiliz e r d is trib u tio n in M a la w i 77 4 .3 .5 In te rv e n tio n s 79 4 .3 .6 H o w to i m p r o v e th e e f f i c i e n c y i n f a r m i n p u t d is trib u tio n ? 4 .4 79 C o n c lu s io n 81 CHAPTER 5 C O N C L U S IO N , R E C O M M E N D A T IO N S A N D D IS C U S S IO N 83 5 .1 In tro d u c tio n 83 5 .2 M a in F in d in g s 83 5 .2 .1 O b j e c ti v e I: T o i n v e s t i g a t e t h e f e r t i l i z e r s u p p l y c h a in i n M a la w i 5 .2 .2 84 O b j e c ti v e II: T o d e t e r m i n e t h e T r a n s p o r t a t i o n C h a lle n g e s in th e d is trib u tio n of F IS P f e r t il i z e r . 5 .2 .3 86 O b j e c ti v e I II: T o r e c o m m e n d a s o l u t i o n f o r e f f e c ti v e f e r t i l i z e r d i s t r i b u t i o n 5 .3 R e c o m m e n d a tio n s a n d D is c u s s io n 86 87 5 .3 .1 P o o r L o g i s t ic s 87 5 .3 .2 B u lk P ro c u r e m e n t (P ro c u re m e n t P a rtn e rs h ip s ) 89 5 .3 .3 S u b s i d y B e n e f i c i a r y I d e n ti f i c a t io n . 90 5 .3 .4 H i g h T r a n s p o r t a t i o n C o s ts 90 5 . 3 .5 L a c k o f a d e q u a te R e s e a r c h a n d D e v e lo p m e n t 92 5 .3 .6 E m b ra c in g IC T a n d IT S 92 5 .3 .7 R e l u c t a n c e to a b i d e b y T r a n s p o r t a t i o n p o l i c i e s 93 5 .4 C o n t r i b u t i o n to K n o w l e d g e 94 5 .5 F u tu r e R e s e a r c h N e e d s 95 5 .6 C h a p te r S u m m a ry 95 REFERENCES 96 ix L IS T O F T A B L E S T IT L E O r g a n iz a tio n s and r e s p o n s ib ilitie s in fe r tiliz e r 13 im p o r ta t io n . P r iv a te a n d P u b lic I m p o r t s , S a le s a n d T r a n s p o r ta tio n S e c t o r I n v o lv e m e n t in F e r tiliz e r 24 P u rch a se. c h a lle n g e s a ffe c tin g A g r ic u ltu r a l p r o d u c tiv ity . 30 D e t a ils o f I n t e r v ie w e e s 47 F iv e d e g r e e L ik e r t sc a le 53 T h e m e s C a te g o r ie s a n d e v id e n c e o f I n te r v ie w A n a ly s is 58 K e y w o r d s o r A n s w e r s to e a c h k e y q u e s tio n 59 F e r tiliz e r M a n a g e r s - R e s p o n s e s u m m a r y 60 F a rm ers resp on se S u m m ary 65 T r a n s p o r t e r s in v o lv e m e n t in d is t r ib u t io n p r o c e s s . 72 Q u a lif ic a t io n s f o r f e r t iliz e r d is t r ib u t io n 73 W h y t h e S e le c tio n p r o c e s s w a s n o t e ffe c tiv e 75 S t a t is t ic a l R e s u lt s o n T r a n s p o r t a t io n C h a lle n g e s 78 x L IS T O F F IG U R E S F IG U R E N O . T IT L E PAG E F i g u r e 1 .1 L o c a t io n o f M a la w i in E a s t C e n t r a l A f r ic a . F i g u r e 1 .2 : N u m b e r o f p e o p le a ff e c te d b y fo o d 1 in s e c u r ity sin c e 2008. F i g u r e 1 .3 2 T h e T h e o r e t ic a l F r a m e w o r k o f F e r t iliz e r S u p p ly c h a in in M a la w i. 6 F i g u r e 2 .1 F e r t iliz e r c o m p a n ie s in M a la w i 17 F i g u r e 2 .2 F e r t iliz e r in 5 0 k g b a g s . 21 F i g u r e 2 .3 T a s k s in F I S P im p le m e n t a t io n in M a la w i. 28 F i g u r e 2 .4 S y s te m m a p o f N a c a la C o r r id o r 34 F i g u r e 2 .5 T o p te n c a u s e s o f d e a th a m o n g p e o p le o f a ll a g e s. 37 F i g u r e 2 .6 S o u r c e s o f a ir p o llu t io n in M a la y s ia , 1 9 9 6 . 38 F i g u r e 3 .1 R esea rch F ra m ew o rk 44 F i g u r e 4 .1 R oadm ap of F e r tiliz e r S u p p ly C h a in in M a la w i. S o u r c e : F ie ld d a ta . F i g u r e 4 .2 P e r io d in 66 b u s in e s s fo r r e sp o n d e n ts (T r a n sp o r t C o m p a n ie s ) 70 F i g u r e 4 .3 F le e t S iz e . S o u r c e : F ie ld d a t a 71 F i g u r e 4 .4 E v a lu a tio n o f th e S e le c tio n P r o c e s s . S o u r c e : F ie ld d a ta 74 F i g u r e 4 .5 E ffic ie n c y o f th e d is tr ib u tio n p rocess. S ou rce: F ie ld d a ta F i g u r e 4 .6 76 T h e im p a c t o f T r a n s p o r t a t io n C h a lle n g e s o n f e r t iliz e r d is t r ib u t io n in M a la w i. S o u r c e : F ie ld d a ta . F i g u r e 4 .7 H ow to im p r o v e th e e ffic ie n c y in fa r m 77 in p u t d is t r ib u t io n in M a la w i F i g u r e 5 .1 80 R o a d m a p o f S u p p ly c h a in in M a la w i. D a ta S o u r c e : F ie ld 85 xi L IS T O F A B B R E V IA T IO N S A IS P - A g r i c u l t u r e I n p u t S u b s id y P r o g r a m ADM ARC - A g ric u ltu ra l D e v e lo p m e n t a n d M a r k e tin g ADP - A g ric u ltu ra l D e v e lo p m e n t P la n ATC - A g ric u ltu ra l T ra d in g C o m p a n y ATCC - A g ric u ltu ra l T e c h n o lo g y C le a rin g C o m m itte e ETG - E x p o r t T ra d in g C o m p a n y FFFRA - F e rtiliz e r, F a rm F e e d s a n d R e m e d ie s A c t F IS P - F a r m I n p u t S u b s id y P r o g r a m FOB - F re e O n B o a rd IC T - I n f o rm a tio n C o m m u n ic a tio n T e c h n o lo g y IM F - In te rn a tio n a l M o n e ta ry F u n d C o rp o ra tio n IT S I n t e l l i g e n t T r a n s p o r t a t i o n S y s te m L ao P D R L a o P e o p le s D e m o c ra tic R e p u b lic M BS M a l a w i B u r e a u o f S ta n d a r d s MDA M in is try , D e p a rtm e n t, a n d A g e n c y M FC M a la w i F e rtiliz e r C o m p a n y M FRS M a la w i F e rtiliz e r R e g u la to ry S erv ice M FTS M a la w i f e r tiliz e r T ra d e A s s o c ia tio n MVAC M a la w i V u ln e ra b ility A c tio n C o m m itte e N A SFAM N a tio n a l S m a llh o ld e r F a rm e rs A s s o c ia tio n o f M a la w i PW C P r i c e W a te r h o u s e C o o p e r s SAP S tr u c t u r a l A d j u s t m e n t P r o g r a m SFFRFM S m a llh o ld e r F a rm e r s F e r tiliz e r R e v o lv in g VAT V a lu e A d d e d T a x WB W o rld B a n k x ii Fund L IS T O F A P P E N D IC E S A P P E N D IX T IT L E PAGE A p p e n d ix A T h e Q u e s tio n n a ir e 103 A p p e n d ix B M a la w i G o v e r n m e n t B id d in g A d v e r tis e m e n t. 107 A p p e n d ix C T 1 P 1 - I n te r v ie w tr a n s c r ip tio n w ith P r iv a te F e r tiliz e r C o m p a n y E x e c u tiv e A p p e n d ix D 109 T 2 P 1 - I n te r v ie w s e s s io n w ith F a r m e r s W o r ld L im ite d M an agem en t A p p e n d ix E T 3P1 - I n te r v ie w 112 w ith Q u a s i-G o v e r n m e n t F e r tiliz e r C o m p a n y E x e c u tiv e A p p e n d ix F T 4P1 - I n te r v ie w 116 T r a n s c r ip tio n L eader w ith T r a d itio n a l 120 x ii i CHAPTER 1 IN T R O D U C T IO N 1 .1 B a c k g r o u n d to th e S tu d y M a l a w i is a S o u t h C e n t r a l A f r i c a n n a t i o n b o r d e r e d b y M o z a m b i q u e , t o t h e e a s t a n d s o u t h , Z a m b i a t o t h e w e s t a n d T a n z a n i a to t h e n o r t h ( R e f e r F i g 1 .1 ) b e l o w . I t is a l a n d l o c k e d c o u n tr y . I ts e c o n o m y is p r e d o m i n a n t l y a g r i c u l t u r a l w i t h 8 0 % o f e x p o r t e a rn in g s g e n e ra te d f r o m a g ric u ltu re p ro d u c ts (I F D C , 2 0 0 7 ). F i g u r e 1 .1 L o c a t i o n o f M a l a w i i n E a s t C e n t r a l A f r ic a . A d a p te d f r o m A fr ic a n J o u rn a l o f E n v iro n m e n ta l S c ie n c e a n d T e c h n o lo g y P a g e 3 4 8. 1 T h e In te g ra te d H o u s e h o ld S u rv e y (IH S ), o f 2 0 1 7 a s s e s s e d th a t a b o u t 8 3 % o f th e p o p u la tio n w a s e n g a g e d in a g r ic u ltu r a l a c tiv itie s a n d a p p r o x im a te ly 6 6 % o f th e r u r a l p o o r w e r e f o o d i n s e c u r e ( N S O , 2 0 1 7 ) . B u t t h i s is b e s i d e t h e c o u n t r y h a v i n g a v e r y g o o d s u p p l y o f m a n p o w e r f o r a g r i c u l t u r e p r o d u c t i v i t y , a n d t h e y i e l d s r e m a i n in g lo w , e v e n in g o o d ra in f a ll y e a rs ( G o v e rn m e n t o f M a la w i, 2 0 0 8 ). T h is h a d b e e n so, d u e t o t h e h i g h c o s t o f f e r t i l i z e r d u e to h i g h f r e i g h t c o s t , a m o n g o t h e r r e a s o n s , le a v in g m a n y s m a llh o ld e r fa rm e rs u n a b le to a c c e s s f a r m in p u ts (G o v e rn m e n t o f M a l a w i , 2 0 0 8 ) . T h i s h a s l e f t t h e c o u n t r y t o b e c o m e f o o d in s e c u r e . O n e o f t h e a f f e c t e d a r e a s w a s t h e E a s t B a n k R e g i o n w h i c h is l o c a t e d to t h e e a s t e r n s i d e o f S h i r e r i v e r , i n t h e s o u t h e r n r e g i o n o f M a l a w i ( R e f e r F ig . 1 .1 ). I t is a n a re a c o v e rin g C h ik w a w a a n d N s a n je d is tric ts . T h is r e g io n a n d s o m e o th e r a re a s d e p e n d o n g o v e r n m e n t i n t e r v e n t i o n d u r i n g l e a n p e r io d s . F ig u r e 1 .2 b e l o w , s h o w s th e h u n g e r s i t u a t i o n i n M a l a w i f r o m 2 0 0 8 t o 2 0 1 6 a s r e p o r t e d b y M a l a w i V u l n e r a b i l it y A c t i o n C o m m i t t e e ( G o v e r n m e n t o f M a l a w i, 2 0 1 6 ) . 7000000 6491848 6000000 5000000 4000000 2833212 3000000 1972993 1855183 I 2000000 613291 1000000 275168 ■ 0 2007 F ig u r e 1 .2 : A d a p te d f r o m 2008 2009 508089 508089 262411 ■ - 2010 695600 ■ 2011 2012 ■ ■ 2013 I 2014 2015 N u m b e r o f p e o p le a ffe c te d b y f o o d in s e c u rity s in c e 2 0 0 8 . M V A C R e p o r t . ( G o v e r n m e n t o f M a l a w i, 2 0 1 6 ) . 2 2016 V e ry fe w c o u n trie s a n d re g io n s h a d e x p e rie n c e d s u s ta in e d g ro w th a t a h ig h l e v e l w i t h o u t g r o w t h i n a g r i c u l t u r a l p r o d u c t i v i t y b e c a u s e a g r i c u l t u r e is a s o u r c e o f fo o d s e c u r ity . A g ric u ltu re had been ( C h a k w iz ir a , N h e m a c h e n a , & a m a jo r s o u rc e o f in c o m e f o r ru ra l p o o r M a s h iri, 2 0 1 0 ) a n d a s o u rc e o f liv e lih o o d f o r a n e s t i m a t e d 8 6 % o f p e o p l e l i v i n g i n r u r a l a r e a s . I t is a l s o a s o u r c e o f g r o w t h f o r th e n a tio n a l e c o n o m y , g e n e ra tin g o n a v e ra g e , 2 9 % o f G D P a n d e m p lo y in g a b o u t 6 5 % o f t h e l a b o u r f o r c e ( C h a k w i z i r a e t a l., 2 0 1 0 ) . A g ric u ltu ra l p r o d u c tio n in M a la w i d e p e n d s o n a h o e a n d r a in a s a s o u rc e o f w a te r w h e re 5 5 % o f h o u s e h o ld s c a n n o t g e n e ra te a n y in c o m e th ro u g h f a r m in g a n d t h e r e f o r e o f f e r t h e i r l a b o u r to c u l t i v a t e i n o t h e r p e o p l e s f i e l d s i n o r d e r t o g e t a d a i l y w a g e t o b u y f o o d ( G o v e r n m e n t o f M a l a w i , 2 0 0 8 ) . I n a q u e s t o f b o o s t i n g a g r ic u l tu r e p r o d u c ti v i t y , M a l a w i G o v e r n m e n t i n t r o d u c e d th e F a rm I n p u t S u b s id y P ro g ra m ( F I S P ) s o a s to e m p o w e r t h e r u r a l p o o r t o a c c e s s s u b s i d i z e d s e e d a n d f e r t il i z e r . 1 .1 .1 F a r m I n p u t S u b s id y P r o g r a m (F I S P ) F a r m i n p u t s u b s i d y p r o g r a m is a g o v e r n m e n t i n i ti a t i v e a i m e d a t i m p r o v i n g f e r t i l i z e r a n d h y b r i d s e e d u s e i n m a i z e p r o d u c t i o n a s a r e s u lt o f f o o d s e c u r i ty p ro b le m s p a r tic u la rly a f te r p o o r 2 0 0 4 /5 p r o d u c tio n s e a s o n a n d in lin e w ith e le c tio n m a n i f e s t o p r o m i s e s ( D o r w a r d , C h i r w a , & J a y n e , 2 0 1 1 ) . S in c e i t s i n c e p t i o n , t h e m a i n o b j e c t i v e o f t h e p r o g r a m w a s i n c r e a s e d a c c e s s to c h e a p f e r t i l i z e r a n d h y b r i d s e e d b y p o o r s m a llh o ld e r fa rm e rs . Im p ro v e d p ro f ita b ility o f f e r tiliz e r u s e in m a iz e p r o d u c tio n c o u ld b e a c h ie v e d b y e ith e r im p ro v in g th e e ffic ie n c y in fe r tiliz e r s u p p ly o r r e d u c tio n in tr a n s p o r t c o s ts d u rin g im p o rta tio n a n d d is trib u tio n o f th e c o m m o d ity (D o rw a rd e t a l. , 2 0 1 1 ) . 3 O v e r t h e y e a r s , F I S P p r o g r a m h a d b e e n v e r y p o p u l a r ( D o r w a r d e t a l., 2 0 1 1 ) w h i c h r e s u l t e d i n i n c r e a s e d m a i z e p r o d u c t i o n f r o m 1 4 8 0 k g / h a to 2 1 0 0 k g / h a i n 2 0 1 3 a n d d e c re a s e d u n d e r n o u ris h m e n t f r o m 2 7 % to 2 0 .8 % (F A O , 2 0 1 7 ). H o w e v e r, o v e r th e y e a rs , p e o p le h a d b e e n d e b a tin g a t th e n a tio n a l le v e l o n w h e th e r F IS P h a d b e e n f u l l y e x p l o i t e d w i t h t h e p o l i c y m a k e r s e x p l o r i n g o p t i o n s t o i m p r o v e t h e e f f e c ti v e n e s s o f th e p ro g ra m fu r th e r (F A O , 2 0 1 7 ). 1 .2 P r o b le m S ta te m e n t T h e h ig h c o s t o f f e r tiliz e r le ft m a n y s m a ll h o ld e r fa rm e rs u n a b le to a c c e s s f e r t i l i z e r w h i c h r e s u l t e d i n l o w a g r i c u l t u r a l p r o d u c t i o n i n M a l a w i. T h e g o v e r n m e n t o f M a l a w i i n t r o d u c e d t h e F a r m I n p u t S u b s id y P r o g r a m ( F I S P ) i n 2 0 0 4 / 2 0 0 5 g r o w i n g s e a s o n w ith th e a im o f e ra d ic a tin g h u n g e r b y in c re a s in g a c c e s s to fe r tiliz e r u se a m o n g s t s m a l l h o l d e r f a r m e r s . B u t b e s i d e s h u g e i n v e s t m e n t in t o t h i s p r o g r a m , f o o d in s e c u rity s itu a tio n c o n tin u e d to h a u n t th e c o u n try w ith m a n y s m a llh o ld e r fa rm e rs s u rv iv in g th ro u g h f o o d h a n d o u ts to ta k e th e m to th e n e x t h a r v e s tin g se a so n . T h is h a d le ft p o lic y m a k e rs e x p lo rin g o p tio n s o n h o w to e x p lo it th e b e n e fits o f F IS P . T h e M a l a w i A g r i c u l t u r a l I n p u t S u b s id y P r o g r a m 2 0 0 5 / 6 t o 2 0 0 8 / 9 R e p o r t h i g h l i g h t e d c h a ll e n g e s w i t h i n t h e f e r t i l i z e r s u p p l y c h a i n a s o n e f a c t o r c o n t r i b u t i n g to l a t e d e l i v e r y o f f e r t i l i z e r a n d s e e d ( D o r w a r d e t a l., 2 0 1 1 ) . T h e r e p o r t a l s o e m p h a s i s e d o n im p ro v in g th e e ffic ie n c y in f e r tiliz e r s u p p ly o r th e r e d u c tio n in tr a n s p o r ta tio n c o s ts d u rin g im p o rta tio n a n d d is trib u tio n o f f e r tiliz e r a s so m e o f th e w a y s of a c h i e v i n g p r o f i t a b i l i t y i n f e r t i l i z e r u s e i n m a i z e p r o d u c ti o n . H o w e v e r , s t u d i e s to a c h ie v e s u c h a b j e c t i v e s h a v e n o t b e e n f o r t h c o m in g . A n d i t is f r o m t h a t b a c k g r o u n d t h a t t h i s i n v e s t i g a t i o n w a s c o n d u c t e d i n t h e f e r t i l i z e r s u p p l y c h a in , i n o r d e r to u n d e r s t a n d t h e t r a n s p o r t a t i o n c h a ll e n g e s a n d p r o p o s e d s o l u t io n s to l a t e f e r t i l i z e r d i s t r i b u t i o n i n M a l a w i. 4 1 .3 R e s e a r c h O b j e c t iv e s T h e m a in o b je c tiv e o f th is p r o je c t w a s to in v e s tig a te th e s u p p ly c h a in o f f e r t i l i z e r i n M a l a w i , f r o m t h e s o u r c e to t h e e n d u s e r ( th e f a r m e r ) , w i t h a n i n t e n t i o n o f i d e n t i f y i n g p e r f o r m a n c e g a p s t h a t l e a d t o d e l a y s i n d e l i v e r ie s , r e s u l t i n g t o lo w a g r i c u l t u r a l p r o d u c ti v i t y . T h e f o l l o w i n g w e r e t h e s p e c if ic o b j e c t i v e s o f t h e s tu d y : a) T o i n v e s t i g a t e t h e f e r t i l i z e r s u p p l y c h a i n c h a l l e n g e s i n M a l a w i. b) To d e t e r m in e tra n s p o rta tio n c h a ll e n g e s in th e d is trib u tio n o f F IS P f e r t il i z e r . c) 1 .4 T o r e c o m m e n d s o l u t io n s f o r e f f e c t i v e f e r t i l i z e r d i s t r i b u ti o n . R e s e a r c h Q u e s tio n s T h e fo llo w in g w e re th e re s e a rc h q u e s tio n s to a d d re s s th e a b o v e o b je c tiv e s : a) H o w d o e s f e r tiliz e r flo w f r o m th e s o u rc e to th e e n d u s e r in M a la w i? b) W h a t a r e t h e t r a n s p o r t a t i o n c h a ll e n g e s t h a t a f f e c t f e r t i l i z e r d i s t r i b u t i o n ? c) H o w c a n e ffe c tiv e d is trib u tio n o f fe rtiliz e r b e a c h ie v e d in M a la w i? 5 1 .5 T h e o r e t ic a l F r a m e w o r k T h e t h e o r e t i c a l f r a m e w o r k is t h e b a c k g r o u n d to s u p p o r t a n in v e s t i g a t i o n . T h is t h e o r e t i c a l f r a m e w o r k w a s b a s e d o n t h e t h e o r y f r o m D o r w a r d e t a l. , 2 0 1 1 w h i c h s ta te d th a t I m p ro v in g th e e ffic ie n c y i n f e r tiliz e r S u p p ly o r re d u c tio n i n tr a n s p o r ta tio n c o s t d u r i n g i m p o r t a t i o n a n d d i s t r i b u t i o n l e a d s to i m p r o v e d p r o f i t a b i l i t y o f f e r t i l i z e r u s e b y f a r m e r s i n f o o d p r o d u c ti o n . T h e f r a m e w o r k ( R e f e r F i g u r e 1 .3 ), w a s b a s e d o n th e id e n tific a tio n o f k e y c o n c e p ts a n d r e la tio n s h ip s a m o n g th e c o n c e p ts i n f e r tiliz e r s u p p l y c h a i n i n M a l a w i. F i g u r e 1 .3 T h e T h e o r e t i c a l F r a m e w o r k o f F e r t i l i z e r S u p p ly c h a i n i n M a l a w i. T h e th e o re tic a l fr a m e w o rk a b o v e h a d s p e c ifie d m a n u fa c tu re rs , in te rn a tio n a l s h ip p e rs , a n d tra n s p o rte rs a s h a v in g d ire c t in flu e n c e o n th e c o s t o f fe r tiliz e r w h ile I m p o r t e r s w h o l e s a l e r s a n d a g r o d e a le r s b e i n g i n f l u e n c e d b y g o v e r n m e n t s F a r m I n p u t S u b s id y P r o g r a m . T h e r e a r e a l s o i n t e r r e l a t i o n s h i p s a m o n g t h e v a r ia b l e s . 6 1 .6 A s s u m p tio n s I n c a rry in g o u t th is re s e a rc h , th e re s p o n d e n ts f o r th e stu d y c o n s is t o f: 1. C o m p e te n t a n d k n o w le d g e a b le p e rs o n n e l fr o m m a n a g e ria l le v e l a n d a b o v e in f e r t i l i z e r s u p p l y c h a i n a n d tr a n s p o r ta t io n . 2. K n o w le d g e a b le a n d h o n e s t tr a d itio n a l le a d e rs a s b e n e fic ia rie s . 1 .7 S co p e o f th e stu d y T h is re s e a rc h fo c u s e d o n ly o n th e s u p p ly c h a in o f fe rtiliz e r i n M a la w i w ith p a r t i c u l a r i n t e r e s t i n s u b s i d y f e r t i l i z e r i m p o r t a t i o n a n d d i s t r i b u ti o n . O t h e r r e l a t e d to p ic s lik e ra w m a te r ia l e x tra c tio n , m a n u fa c tu rin g a n d o th e rs w e re n o t c o v e re d . T h e in te rv ie w s ta rg e te d s p e c if ic m a n a g e rs o f f e r tiliz e r im p o rtin g c o m p a n ie s w h ile q u e s tio n n a ire r e s p o n d e n ts w e re tra n s p o r te rs th a t h a d p re v io u s e x p e rie n c e i n th e d i s t r i b u t i o n o f s u b s i d y f e r t il i z e r . T h e f a r m e r s w e r e r e p r e s e n t e d b y t h e t r a d i t i o n a l l e a d e r o f S e m b a v i l l a g e i n T r a d i t i o n a l A u t h o r i t y M b e n j e i n S o r ji n , E a s t B a n k . T h e in te rv ie w s a n d q u e s tio n n a ire a d m in is tr a tio n to o k p la c e b e tw e e n J u ly a n d A u g u s t 2018. 7 1 .8 S ig n ific a n c e o f th e S tu d y The s u b s id y p r o g r a m is a im e d a t in c re a s in g a g ric u ltu ra l p ro d u c tiv ity in M a l a w i. T h i s r e s e a r c h w a s s i g n i f i c a n t b e c a u s e : 1. P ro b le m areas had been id e n tifie d re q u ir in g g o v e r n m e n t i n t e r v e n ti o n . T h is p ro v id e s th e g o v e r n m e n t w ith re c o m m e n d a tio n s th a t w o u ld im p ro v e th e s u b s id y p r o g r a m f u r th e r . 2. R o a d F r e i g h t t r a n s p o r t a t i o n i s o p e r a t e d b y t h e p r i v a t e s e c to r . B y e n g a g i n g t h e t r a n s p o r t e r s i n t h i s r e s e a r c h , t h e p r i v a t e s e c t o r h a d a n o p p o r t u n i t y to u n d e r s t a n d th e ir ro le as c o m p lim e n tin g g o v e rn m e n ts in itia tiv e s th ro u g h e ffic ie n t tr a n s p o r ta tio n se rv ic e s . 3. T h e f a r m e r s b e i n g a t t h e r e c e i v i n g e n d w e r e p r o v i d e d w i t h a p l a t f o r m to v o i c e o u t th e ir p ro b le m s e n c o u n te re d th r o u g h th is p ro g ra m . T h is re s e a rc h h a s th e re fo re a c te d a s a m e d iu m o f c o m m u n i c a t i n g t h e i r c o n c e r n s to t h e g o v e r n m e n t f o r re d re s s. 1 .9 R e s e a r c h O u t lin e T h i s p r o j e c t h a d b e e n o r g a n i z e d in t o f i v e c h a p te r s a s f o l l o w s : C h a p te r O ne ( I n tr o d u c t i o n ) : T h is c h a p te r g iv e s an o v e rv ie w of an i n t r o d u c t i o n to t h e s t u d y b a c k g r o u n d , t h e p r o b l e m s e m a n a t i n g f r o m t h e f e r t i l i z e r s u p p ly c h a in th a t h a d n e c e s s ita te d c a rry in g o u t th is p ro je c t. T h e n th e re s e a rc h o b je c tiv e s , re s e a rc h q u e s tio n s , a n d s c o p e o f th e stu d y w e re d is c u s s e d . T h is c h a p te r a l s o e x p l a i n e d t h e s c o p e a n d w h y t h e s t u d y w a s s i g n i f i c a n t to b e u n d e r ta k e n . 8 C h a p t e r T w o ( L i t e r a t u r e r e v ie w ) : T h i s c h a p t e r is a p r e m i s e o n r e v i e w o f v a r i o u s p a s t r e s e a r c h e r s ’ a n d s c h o l a r s ’ p o s t u l a t i o n s s t a t e d i n a r ti c le s , j o u r n a l s a n d t e x t b o o k s , a n d i n o t h e r p r i n t m e d i a , i n o r d e r t o e x p l o r e t h e f e r t i l i z e r s u p p l y c h a in . T h e in s titu tio n a l fr a m e w o rk in th e fe r tiliz e r in d u s try , th e f a r m in p u t s u b s id y p ro g r a m a n d th e tra n s p o r ta tio n c h a lle n g e s a re a ls o d is c u s s e d in th is c h a p te r. C h a p t e r t h r e e ( R e s e a r c h M e t h o d o l o g y ) : T h i s c h a p t e r o u t l in e s t h e r e s e a r c h m e th o d o lo g y a d o p te d i n c a rry in g o u t th is re s e a rc h w o rk . T h e c h a p te r a lso e la b o ra te s th e re s e a rc h d e s ig n , th e s a m p lin g m e th o d u s e d , d a ta c o lle c tio n in s tru m e n ts , a n d h o w t h e d a t a w a s a n a ly z e d . C h a p t e r f o u r ( D a t a a n a ly s i s a n d f i n d i n g s ) : T h e d i s c u s s i o n i n t h i s c h a p t e r is b a s e d o n th e a n a ly s is a n d in te rp re ta tio n o f d a ta c o lle c te d f r o m in te rv ie w s a n d q u e s tio n n a ire s . C h a p t e r f iv e (C o n c lu s io n a n d R e c o m m e n d a tio n s ): T h is is th e c o n c lu d in g a s p e c t o f t h e s t u d y w h e r e c o n c lu s i o n s , r e c o m m e n d a t i o n s a n d s u g g e s t i o n s h a d b e e n o u tl in e d . 1 .1 0 C o n c lu s io n T h i s c h a p t e r b e i n g a n i n t r o d u c t o r y a s p e c t o f t h e p r o j e c t , h i g h l i g h t e d th e b a c k g ro u n d in fo rm a tio n a n d th e ra tio n a le f o r in v e s tig a tin g th e fe r tiliz e r s u p p ly c h a in i n M a l a w i. T h e o b j e c t i v e s a n d t h e s i g n i f i c a n c e o f t h i s s tu d y h a d a l s o b e e n p r e s e n t e d i n t h i s c h a p te r . T h e c h a p t e r t o f o l l o w d i s c u s s e s t h e v i e w p o i n t o f v a r i o u s a u t h o r s r e g a r d i n g t h e f e r t i l i z e r s u p p l y c h a i n a n d s o m e t r a n s p o r t a t i o n c h a ll e n g e s a s f e r t il i z e r , is a n i m p o r t e d p r o d u c t in t o M a l a w i. I n s h o r t, t h e c h a p t e r d i s c u s s e s t h e f e r t i l i z e r s u p p l y c h a in . 9 REFERENCES A b d i, H . N . (2 0 0 4 ). T h e in flu e n c e o f ru ra l lo g is tic s a n d ru ra l tr a n s p o r t c o s ts o n fa rm in c o m e a n d p o v e r ty in K e n y a : th e c a s e o f K is u m u a n d N y a n d a ru a D is tric ts , K enya. World B ank Report, 7 2 . A d a m o p o u l u s , T . ( 2 0 1 1 ) . ‘T r a n s p o r t a t i o n C o s ts , A g r i c u l t u r a l P r o d u c t i v i t y , a n d C ro s s -c o u n try In c o m e D iff e re n c e s ’; in In te rn a tio n a l E c o n o m ic R e v ie w , 52(2), 4 8 9 -5 2 1 . A d e o ti , A . 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